Tues.’s Devo - Paul’s Defense Was the Gospel

Read: 1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81; Acts 26:1-32; Psalm 6:1-10: Proverbs 18:20-21 Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh stayed on the east side of the Jordan. They faced the Hagrites, Jeturites, Naphishites and the Nodabites. It was their command from God to drive them out and take the land. They cried out to the Lord for help when they were in the midst of fighting and God gave them victory. They came away with much spoil. *** The tribe of Manasseh grew to be very large and spread out across the land but they and other two tribes soon forgot the Lord and took up the gods of the nations around them. The three tribes on the east were eventually taken captive by King Pul of Assyria. *** Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Moses and Aaron were Levites. From them came the workers in the Tabernacle and the priests. When David came to the throne he assigned the Levites to play the music for worship. Heman from the clan of Kohath was in charge of the music. His two assistants were from Gershon and Merari. The other Levites had jobs in the Tabernacle, and later, in the Temple. Only the sons of Aaron became priests and could offer sacrifices and offerings on the altar. *** The Levites were scattered amongst the tribes and given cities within every tribe to live and influence them with the law. *** In Acts, Paul was in trial before Agrippa. The opposition had been given their chance to give their side and now it was Paul’s turn to defend himself. He began with his pedigree and his impressive background. Then he went into his testimony. He had started out persecuting the Christians but then “saw the light” and became a believer of the very thing he fought so violently against. When Jesus spoke to him he told him to go give the message of salvation to the Gentile so that was what he had been doing from that time till today. *** Felix became quickly uncomfortable and shouted out that Paul was crazy. So Paul appealed to Agrippa and told him surely he had heard about Jesus and salvation by faith. He asked Agrippa if he believed the prophets. Agrippa began to feel uncomfortable also and they all stood and walked out. They discussed Paul’s defense and all concluded that he had done nothing worthy of death or being in prison. They would have set him free if he hadn’t have appealed to Caesar. *** Lord, thank you that you are our judge and defense. You see us through the blood of Jesus and we are innocent of sin. Thank you that you paid the price to set us free.